Despite the low ranking coming out of 2001, newly installed farm director
Tony Reagins does not take over an organization totally bereft of talent. There
are some intriguing arms in the system, though the Angels' minor league pitchers
have to come up through a challenging Bermuda Triangle of the high-A California
League, Double-A Texas League and Triple-A Pacific Coast League, the top three
hitters' leagues in the minors. Only three other organizations share that situation.

Statistically, at least, most of the best years from hitters came from players
who were a little old for their leagues and will have to keep proving themselves
at each level. There are virtually no true power prospects in the system, with
most of the top young hitters exhibiting speed instead of slugging power. On
the field, only two of the six clubs finished above .500, including a Salt Lake
team that was younger than most Triple-A teams. The rookie-level Provo club
hit .304, while Salt Lake batted .288. Arkansas, meanwhile, won the Texas League
title in abbreviated and upset fashion, leading heavily favored Round Rock two
games to none when the playoffs were canceled after the terrorist attacks.

Power ranking: 30 (4th in division)

Top hitter

Nathan Haynes
Outfielder

Opening Day age: 22 Height: 5-9 Weight: 170 B/T: L/L

Originally a first-round pick by Oakland out of high school in 1997, only a
variety of minor injuries have kept the immensely talented speedster from moving
up more quickly. Given his age when drafted, it's easy to forget how young he
still is after five pro seasons. By 18 he was already outperforming older players
in the high-A California League. Sidelined for part of this past season with
a wrist injury, he was back in action by late summer. He hit .300 with nine
steals in Arizona Fall League. The fastest baserunner in the Angels' system,
he finished second in the organization in stolen bases despite missing time.
He is outstanding defensively and consistent at the plate.

Top pitcher

Bobby Jenks
Right-handed pitcher

Opening Day age: 21 Height: 6-3 Weight: 225 B/T: R/R

A tough call, but in the past few months the fifth-round pick from 2000 has
become the up-and-coming pitcher people love to talk about  the 2001 version
of Milwaukee prospect Nick Neugebauer. Like Neugebauer, Jenks has a blazing
fastball. He has been clocked more than a few times over 100 mph and regularly
between 94-97. Also like Neugebauer, he's not always sure where that fastball
is going. Jenks was sent to Arizona Fall League after allowing three or fewer
earned runs in 11 of his last 12 starts at Cedar Rapids. He led the prospect-laden
league with 49 strikeouts in just 31 innings but also posted a 6.97 ERA in eight
starts. He also has a great curveball and is working on a changeup. With consistent
control as he gets older he could be special.

CREAM OF THE CROP

Alfredo Amezaga
Infielder

Opening Day age: 24 Height: 5-10 Weight: 165 B/T: R/R

Easily the top infielder in the system, Amezaga is an exciting player with
outstanding defensive skills. He was originally drafted by Colorado in the 44th
round of 1998 as a draft-and-follow, but the Rockies didn't sign him, so he
went to the Angels in the 13th round of 1999 out of junior college in Florida.
A speedster on the bases, he swiped 73 in 2000 and was caught 21 times, but
his ratio took a dive in 2001 at the higher levels as he was 33-for-54. He makes
adjustments well and has quick hands and feet. He can play shortstop or second
base and hustles every minute of every game.

Chris Bootcheck
Right-handed pitcher

Opening Day age: 23 Height: 6-5 Weight: 205 B/T:
R/R

The Angels' second first-round pick in 2000, the Auburn product held out all
summer so the 2001 season marked his pro debut. Armed with a fastball in the
mid-90s and a late-breaking slider, he finished sixth in the organization in
ERA and tied for third in victories. He is an intelligent pitcher on the mound,
and the Angels expect him to be a quick riser and a major contributor in the
not-too-distant future.

BEST OF THE REST

Jared Abruzzo
Catcher

Opening Day age: 20 Height: 6-3 Weight: 225 B/T: B/R

The second-round pick from 2000 is a switch-hitter with power potential from
both sides of the plate who also boasts an outstanding arm. This year at high-A
Rancho Cucamonga he will benefit from working with a hitting coach who fit that
description himself in Damon Berryhill. Abruzzo has good tools across the board,
already calls a good game and is a hard worker.

Elpidio Guzman
Outfielder

Opening Day age: 23 Height: 6-2 Weight: 165 B/T: L/L

Though Nathan Haynes would appear to have pulled past Guzman in the race for
top speedy center field prospect, don't count Guzman out yet. This was Guzman's
first taste of Double-A, and the Angels hope his stats of the three years prior
are more what they'll get down the line. His tools and ability are outstanding.
In 2000 at high-A Lake Elsinore he hit .282 with 16 triples and 53 steals, his
second consecutive 50-steal season. It was more difficult for him in 2001, as
he was caught stealing 14 times in 32 attempts.

John Lackey
Right-handed pitcher

Opening Day age: 23 Height: 6-6 Weight: 205 B/T: R/R

Lackey was a second-round pick in 1999 out of junior college in Texas, but
he was the team's top selection that summer since they lost their first-round
pick to sign Mo Vaughn. Lackey is an intense competitor who is durable and makes
adjustments quickly at each level. At three levels in 2000 he combined for 15
wins and was the organization's Minor League Pitcher of the Year. He has a good
fastball and curveball, and finished fifth in the Texas League in ERA. He struggled,
though, with his first taste of Triple-A.

Pedro Liriano
Right-handed pitcher

Opening Day age: 21 Height: 6-2 Weight: 160 B/T:
R/R

The Angels found Liriano through his cousin, major league pitcher Ramon Ortiz.
In his 2000 debut he posted a 1.25 ERA in the Dominican Summer League and in
2001, his U.S. debut, he finished third in the organization in wins despite
pitching in a short-season league. He was the Pioneer League Pitcher of the
Year and allowed more than three earned runs only once in 15 starts.

Bart Miadich
Right-handed pitcher

Opening Day age: 26 Height: 6-4 Weight: 205 B/T: R/R

The Angels' 2001 Minor League Pitcher of the Year was signed thanks to minor
league manager Don Wakamatsu's recommendation after he worked with Miadich in
the Arizona system. Released by the D-backs in spring 2000, he found new life
as a closer. This past season he led the organization and the Pacific Coast
League in saves. He throws a fastball, a breaking pitch and a cutter.

Robb Quinlan
Infielder

Opening Day age: 25 Height: 6-1 Weight: 195 B/T: R/R

The Angels are experimenting with where to put Quinlan defensively, but they
know they want to find a place for his bat. The 10th-round pick out of Minnesota
in 1999 was Northwest League MVP in his pro debut that summer, hitting .322
with nine homers and 77 RBI. In 2000, his first full season, he batted .317
with 85 RBI at Lake Elsinore. In 2001 he finished among the Texas League leaders
in average, hits and triples.

Francisco Rodriguez
Right-handed pitcher

Opening Day age: 20 Height: 6-0 Weight: 165 B/T:
R/R

The Venezuelan-born Rodriguez throws a fastball in the mid-90s and complements
it with a great slider. He was the top prospect in the Pioneer League in 1999
when he posted a 3.31 ERA in 12 starts. But he made only 13 starts at Lake Elsinore
in 2000 before being shut down with elbow trouble. This past season he started
late as he continued his recovery and seemed to tire down the stretch, but he
still led the organization in strikeouts in just 20 starts.

Johan Santana
Right-handed pitcher

Opening Day age: 18 Height: 6-2 Weight: 150 B/T: R/R

Another young power pitcher, Santana is several years away but his upside is
so high he must be included on this list. The skinny teenager went past six
innings just once in his US debut in the complex-level Arizona League, yet struck
out eight or more five times in a row and led the league in strikeouts. He also
allowed just one homer all season, a span of 77 1/3 innings. He has a fastball
already in the mid-90s, a slider and a developing changeup.

Joe Torres
Left-handed pitcher

Opening Day age: 19 Height: 6-2 Weight: 175 B/T: L/L

The Angels' top pick in the 2000 draft impressed in his pro debut that year
at Boise, going 4-1 with a 2.54 ERA and 52 strikeouts in 46 innings. But in
2001 he was slowed by some minor injuries, not starting his season until late
May, then being shut down again until late July after just four games. Armed
notably with a low-90s fastball and a great curve, his amateur stuff was electric,
and the Angels are counting on him regaining his form once he is healthy.

2001 FIRST-ROUNDERS

Casey Kotchman
First baseman (13th pick )

Opening Day age: 19 Height: 6-3 Weight: 210 B/T: L/L

The son of longtime Angels minor league manager and scout Tom Kotchman, the
Florida high schooler virtually always has been an Angel. But his showing in
2001 proved that there was no nepotism involved in this pick. Kotchman is a
mature hitter for his age who has good power potential and is an outstanding
defensive first baseman. A strained wrist forced a premature end to a season
that got off to a hot start, but he is fine now.

Jeff Mathis
Catcher (33rd pick)

Opening Day age: 19 Height: 6-0 Weight: 180 B/T: R/R

Like Kotchman, the Angels' other first-round pick had his year end with injury
when he broke his hand. But the former high school quarterback has a great arm
and soft hands. Primarily a pitcher and shortstop in high school, he also did
some catching and hit .506 as a senior at Marianna (Fla.) High School.

WORTH NOTING

Right-hander Phil Wilson, a 6-foot-8 third-rounder from 1999, was second in
the system in strikeouts at Rancho Cucamonga, striking out eight or more in
six of his 26 starts. Outfielder Mike O'Keefe rebounded from a disappointing
2000 season at Cedar Rapids to break through at Rancho, hitting .330 with 15
homers. Second baseman Johnny Raburn led the organization in steals but he tore
a ligament in his thumb in late J Third baseman Dallas McPherson suffered a
broken arm but not before he hit .395 in 31 games and showed power potential.
A less-heralded Provo player was undrafted outfielder Sam Swenson , who hit
.351 with 13 homers and 55 RBI.